Sedation??

[LiLIrishChick63]

i just have some questions about anyone who has ever been sedated before.

i'm going to have my wisdom teeth taken out within the next few months, and i'm not real worried about the pain or blood or anything, but i'm a bit worried about the sedation that they give.

i figured that i would get the sedation because i think that i would be a little too nervous to sit there and listen to everything going on. my DF had it, and he said that he knew what was going on, but didn't really care. but the dentist said that i won't remember much of that day.

anyone ever have this before? how did it make you feel? i've never been sedated, i've never had any kind of surgery before so i just want to know what to expect. obviously i will have someone there to drive me, and to be with me for the rest of the day. but am i going to need help doing EVERYTHING from getting food to going to the bathroom?

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I remember blacking out for a while and then coming to while they were still doing my eye surgery. I don't remember it hurting. I just told them i wanted more medicine, them blacked out again.
However, the worse part for me was the next day when I started to vomit because I am aparently allergic to whatever it was that they gave me. It was horrible, I vomited like every half hour the rest of the day. I don't know how common it is to be allergic to anestisia

 

[themarquis]

I was sedated for my wisdom teeth extraction.

It was really no big deal at all ... much less scary than I thought it would be. They hooked me up to an IV and some monitors, and I lay back in the chair as the dr got ready for the extraction. I remember thinking to myself, this is really boring -- maybe I'll close my eyes for a couple of minutes.... then wham ... the surgery was over and they were shaking me saying, okay, time to get up, its all done!

I remember being very confused ... like ... wha? its over? you want me to do what now? and very groggy, like I had just woken up abruptly from a nap ... a very very pleasureable nap(!). I remember feeling kind of p**sed off that they were trying to get me up to walk into the other room. Finally I was up and walking and they let me lay down again on a padded bench in the "recovery room". Then my GF at the time came in to sit with me and I burst into tears. I wasn't unhappy or in pain or anything, just crying for no reason. The nurse told GF that that was "normal". After a while I felt better but still groggy.

We got a milkshake on the way home, and I think I lay down for a while and watched TV. I wasn't so out of it that I couldn't go about my normal business, just a bit tired and uncomfortable. They gave me heavy-duty pain meds (percocet I think) which made me happy and groggy. I didn't need any help doing anything ... I'm sure you won't need someone to help you to the bathroom lol! I think someone should probably stay with you to remind you to take pain meds , to find tempting foods for you, and to help keep you company, but that's about it.

best of luck -- I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[Melisa1]

I had my wisdom teeth cut out about 20 years ago and they put you to sleep then (not sure how they do it now). When I had it done, they used an IV and it had something in there that knocked you completely out.
I don't remember much, but I know I slept the rest of the day after I got home. I don't recall any bad effects. Good Luck!

 

[momrek06]

My DS had his wisdom teeth out the Summer of 2005. He had 2 impacted and 2 that were not. He was sedated as well. But he will tell you he remembered allot of things but was completely painfree and in a comfortable mode. The whole procedure will not take that long to begin with. Your dentist will have several consults with you prior to the actual DAY. The dentist will explain everything from what you should and should not do BEFORE, the DAY OF and AFTER the procedure. Bring all your questions to the consult meetings.

One really funny thing is that the Nurses wheel you to your Recovery Room in a wheel chair. (at this office anyway) My DS said to me while I was in with him as he was coming slowly out of the sedation...how the Nurse wheeled him in this room...I said "NO, I am sure you walked". I then asked the Nurse and she said..."he said that!!!!...YES, we do wheel them just these few feet to the Recovery Room BUT no one ever remembers THAT"....so I was wrong and DS was RIGHT!!!

So you may or may not remember what actually went on. But you will not feel a thing. Just try to relax and know in no time it will be over and altogether from day one....I think DS was absolutely FINE by his 5th day....so about 4 total days of laying low and quiet. The first 24 hours are uncomfortable no question about that but you will have pain pills as well as possibly an antibiotic.

REMEMBER...NO STRAWS at all....I forget WHY....so ASK YOUR DENTIST THIS QUESTION....but no straws after the surgery....maybe someone on the DIS will know why!!!

GOOD LUCK!

 

[themarquis]

REMEMBER...NO STRAWS at all....I forget WHY....so ASK YOUR DENTIST THIS QUESTION....but no straws after the surgery....maybe someone on the DIS will know why!!!

GOOD LUCK!

um... because a straw could poke the back of your mouth? I myself am a victim of a few drinking-straw-induced injuries ...

 

[SkcMom]

Subscribing. I am having all four of my wisdom teeth cut, pulled, drilled out on December 15th and I am nervous as heck! I've never had any kind of surgery either and am also afraid of the sedation thing. Glad I have a sweet DH and DD to help me out!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

You can't drink from a straw or smoke (anything that involves sucking) because you can get dry sockets. It's very painful and the holes have to be stuffed with cotton. NOT pleasant.

 

[lg3]

Definitely the way to go. The first time I was ever sedated/had general anesthesia was in having my wisdom teeth out too. No big deal at all. It went very fast. I remember them walking me to a room to lie down until I had my bearings and my brother was with me at the time to drive me home. While I was lying down, I guess I lost track of time, because when I asked him what time it was he finally said "You've asked me that three times in the last five minutes!" To me, it could have been 20 min. or an hour.
I have had several more general anesthesias since then - no problems whatsoever. Thank God for anesthesiologists.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

20 years ago I had 2 wisdom teeth out with general anesthesia. Mom didn't even think twice about forking over the extra money. she knows I'm a pain wimp.

about 18 months later, the other 2 wisdom teeth came in. They looked ok on xrays when I had the first teeth out, but of course came in funny and needed to be removed. Different oral surgeon, he didn't do general anesthesia, but said i'd be fine with the light sedation. I was scared stiff, but he was right. I remember they used a small dose of demerol in the IV first, and then a honking huge syringe of valium. wonderful combo! I highly recommend it. The only thing I remember is them saying "bite down". I bit onto a mouthful of gauze, they were done. They said I was awake and cooperative, but I remember nothing.

so - I say go for the sedation, it will make the experience go much more smoothly.

 

[supercarrie]

I had what they call "twilight" anesthesia done for my wisdom tooth extraction (as compared to general which I have also had done several times.) I was hooked to an IV, fell right asleep, woke up, whole thing was done! I don't remember anything from the extraction, but I recovered a lot faster with the twilight compared to general - woke up, was helped up by the assistants, walked to the car by myself. Not a big deal at all! I was pretty uncomfortable for the next few hours, but nothing I couldn't sleep off. Very happy I opted for it, made the extraction almost pleasant!

And re: straws. DON'T use them, honestly. I got dry socket (not because of using straws, just happened!) and it was painful. The medicine you have to put on them to make them heal tastes absolutely disgusting as well.

 

[noodleknitter]

Ditto re. dry sockets...I thought I could see the bones in my jaw...but it was just packing material!

Loved the twilight sleep stuff. I have an irrational fear of anesthetics, but this was totally different. I felt like I could come out of it, if I really wanted to...but was content not to. Love the stuff!

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I remember blacking out for a while and then coming to while they were still doing my eye surgery. I don't remember it hurting. I just told them i wanted more medicine, them blacked out again.
However, the worse part for me was the next day when I started to vomit because I am aparently allergic to whatever it was that they gave me. It was horrible, I vomited like every half hour the rest of the day. I don't know how common it is to be allergic to anestisia

aww that sucks. sorry you were allergic. it sucks to have to find out the hard way. this is just local sedation, i'll still be awake, just not very alert lol.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I was sedated for my wisdom teeth extraction.

It was really no big deal at all ... much less scary than I thought it would be. They hooked me up to an IV and some monitors, and I lay back in the chair as the dr got ready for the extraction. I remember thinking to myself, this is really boring -- maybe I'll close my eyes for a couple of minutes.... then wham ... the surgery was over and they were shaking me saying, okay, time to get up, its all done!

I remember being very confused ... like ... wha? its over? you want me to do what now? and very groggy, like I had just woken up abruptly from a nap ... a very very pleasureable nap(!). I remember feeling kind of p**sed off that they were trying to get me up to walk into the other room. Finally I was up and walking and they let me lay down again on a padded bench in the "recovery room". Then my GF at the time came in to sit with me and I burst into tears. I wasn't unhappy or in pain or anything, just crying for no reason. The nurse told GF that that was "normal". After a while I felt better but still groggy.

We got a milkshake on the way home, and I think I lay down for a while and watched TV. I wasn't so out of it that I couldn't go about my normal business, just a bit tired and uncomfortable. They gave me heavy-duty pain meds (percocet I think) which made me happy and groggy. I didn't need any help doing anything ... I'm sure you won't need someone to help you to the bathroom lol! I think someone should probably stay with you to remind you to take pain meds , to find tempting foods for you, and to help keep you company, but that's about it.

best of luck -- I'm sure you'll be fine.

they aren't going to knock me out for the extractions. they said that i will still be awake. and he doesn't like using an IV so it'll be pill form. he said it was like Valum(sp??) or something.

that's pretty much what my DF said. he was just kinda out of it, but he still knew what was going on and could function normally.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

My DS had his wisdom teeth out the Summer of 2005. He had 2 impacted and 2 that were not. He was sedated as well. But he will tell you he remembered allot of things but was completely painfree and in a comfortable mode. The whole procedure will not take that long to begin with. Your dentist will have several consults with you prior to the actual DAY. The dentist will explain everything from what you should and should not do BEFORE, the DAY OF and AFTER the procedure. Bring all your questions to the consult meetings.

One really funny thing is that the Nurses wheel you to your Recovery Room in a wheel chair. (at this office anyway) My DS said to me while I was in with him as he was coming slowly out of the sedation...how the Nurse wheeled him in this room...I said "NO, I am sure you walked". I then asked the Nurse and she said..."he said that!!!!...YES, we do wheel them just these few feet to the Recovery Room BUT no one ever remembers THAT"....so I was wrong and DS was RIGHT!!!

So you may or may not remember what actually went on. But you will not feel a thing. Just try to relax and know in no time it will be over and altogether from day one....I think DS was absolutely FINE by his 5th day....so about 4 total days of laying low and quiet. The first 24 hours are uncomfortable no question about that but you will have pain pills as well as possibly an antibiotic.

REMEMBER...NO STRAWS at all....I forget WHY....so ASK YOUR DENTIST THIS QUESTION....but no straws after the surgery....maybe someone on the DIS will know why!!!

GOOD LUCK!

i'm not real worried about the pain, like i said. i've worked in a dental office, so i know that there's pretty much no feeling at all. it's just the noise and the pulling and poking that i'll hear/feel that i know will make me a bit uneasy. 4 days isn't too bad for recovery!

the no straw rule is because they don't want you to get dry socket. the sucking motion isn't good for the socket. you have to form a blot clot. so no straws and no smoking(luckily i don't use either of those lol). and no alcohol for 24 hours....but really......who would want to?

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I remember them walking me to a room to lie down until I had my bearings and my brother was with me at the time to drive me home. While I was lying down, I guess I lost track of time, because when I asked him what time it was he finally said "You've asked me that three times in the last five minutes!" To me, it could have been 20 min. or an hour.

aww that's funny! i'm hoping that DF can get a day or two off of work so he can take me. i don't think i'd want to spend the day with my mother......she would drive me crazy.

she's already driving me crazy. "well i'm just worried that they're going to have a problem getting the impacted ones out!".................and why would they have a problem doing that? she's just insane......no seriously.

 

[Honu]

My experience was very much like themarquis. I was rudely awaken in the recovery room from the best nap I think I've ever had and grumpily asked when they were going to do it.

I highly recommend being put out. My DH had his removed, by the same surgeon that I used and loved, and it wasn't a good experience.

 

[Ms Marigny]

I had all four impacted wisdom teeth removed two years ago. Sedation for me went just fine- they tried to knock me out, but my body resisted it, so they went ahead with the procedure while I was still conscious. I have to tell you though, I had not a care in the world and could care less about what I could hear or see them doing. I just kept thinking "really deep thoughts", which in retrospect was quite hilarious. I was high as a kite! My dentist was laughing at me because I kept telling dirty jokes before they started the surgery- I think they could tell by that point that I was good and numb!

Like you, I was totally scared beforehand, but the sedation eased all fears, haha. I couldn't feel any pain, and it took them an hour and a half to finish because the roots of one of my wisdom teeth had grown into my sinus cavity making the surgery a bit more complicated. I was totally conherent and able to get around on my own afterward, I even went to the pharmacy to fill my prescriptions right after (DH was driving) and got some odd looks from people there because my lips and cheeks were so swollen and I was still a bit "high" I think.

I did get a bit naseous later that night after the sedation wore off, but I think that may have been aggravated by the fact that I hadn't eaten in 24 hours because you have to fast for so long before the surgery. I felt fine after I had some soup.

So, don't worry- you'll do fine!

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

I had all four impacted wisdom teeth removed two years ago. Sedation for me went just fine- they tried to knock me out, but my body resisted it, so they went ahead with the procedure while I was still conscious. I have to tell you though, I had not a care in the world and could care less about what I could hear or see them doing. I just kept thinking "really deep thoughts", which in retrospect was quite hilarious. I was high as a kite! My dentist was laughing at me because I kept telling dirty jokes before they started the surgery- I think they could tell by that point that I was good and numb!

Like you, I was totally scared beforehand, but the sedation eased all fears, haha. I couldn't feel any pain, and it took them an hour and a half to finish because the roots of one of my wisdom teeth had grown into my sinus cavity making the surgery a bit more complicated. I was totally conherent and able to get around on my own afterward, I even went to the pharmacy to fill my prescriptions right after (DH was driving) and got some odd looks from people there because my lips and cheeks were so swollen and I was still a bit "high" I think.

I did get a bit naseous later that night after the sedation wore off, but I think that may have been aggravated by the fact that I hadn't eaten in 24 hours because you have to fast for so long before the surgery. I felt fine after I had some soup.

So, don't worry- you'll do fine!

ahaha dirty jokes!! ouch.....grew into your sinus cavity??? that's insane!

i'm glad it worked ok for you. i'm feeling that i'll have a similar experience. luckily my impacted ones on the bottom(those are the only ones impacted) haven't grown roots yet, so they will be fairly easy to get out once he gets into the bone.

i was wondering about the nautious thing too. but i usually don't get too bad. they told me also not to eat anything that day.......which sucks......but i understand. so i guess it's soup, popsicles, and water for a few days! hey......i've been wanting to lose a few pounds anyway! lol

 

[zumbergc]

The one bad thing about sedation is you can't eat for a while before the sergery. I'm not sure if its no eating after midnight, or a certain number of hours before the sergery.

For most people its not an issue if you have diabetis or low blood sugar and prefer to eat on a regular schedule, the local in the mouth might be a better alternative. i have low blood sugar, and don't do well w/ the you can't eat after midnight thing. So, I did a local, didn't feel anything, I could feel some tugging, and my jaw was sore, since they have a clamp holding your mouth open wide.

I've had sedation for other procedures I get he first appmt in the morning. Its gone well for me, like a big nap. You just seem to close your eyes, and then your woken up like you just went to sleep and no time passed.